Monday, November 17, 2008

Lawu Mountain (3,265)

It is quite easy to climb Mt. Lawu as it is in the close vicinity to the city , there for many mountaineers climb this mountain. Start from Surabaya , we can travel by bus to Madiun , and continue to Cemorosewu through Sarangan . In case we start from Surakarta , we can go directly to Tawangmangu and continue to cemorosewu. Cemorosewu-Sarangan valley is a tourist spot , as it has fascinating scenery . The valley shape is like a saddle . It is the highest main road in java island, at about 1,900 m high. At Cemorosewu we should register ourselves to Forest Authority (PERHUTANI) and complete logistic for climbing . From cemorosewu on the way to the peak , we will find four huts successively at 2,100 m, 2,300 m , 2,500 m, and 2,800 m high from the sea level .

We will also find " Pesanggrahan Argo Dalem" at 3,100 m .On the way to the peak , we will pas away pine forest and acacia forest up the height of 3,000 m, after that the plants became lower . At 3,200 m high, close to the peak , we can look at small salfatara at the bottom of the steep ravine.Peak of Mt. Lawu is a hilly plain , from where we can find out remaining dead crater. From the peak of Mt. Lawu we can look at the beautiful panorama towards Tawangmangu-Sarangan valley and its fabulous lake .

The journey from Cemorosewu to the peak takes nearly 7 hours whereas the return one will spend nearly 4 hours. We can find spring before Pesanggrahan Argo Dalem bifurcation way , or 1 hour trekking from the last hut.